Post by Balendin Madariaga on Mar 17, 2011 20:05:16 GMT -5
Character Played By (the person in your avatar): Shiloh Fernandez
Name: Balendin Madariaga
Title: Prince of Euskerria
Age: 21
Race (Lineage Origin): Euskerri
Gender: Male
Height: 6'1"
Home Province/Country: Euskerria
Appearance (1-2 Paragraphs):
Dark haired and dark eyed, Balendin shows the ancient roots of the Euskerri people as well as the inter-marriage they sometimes engaged in with both the Aragonians and the d'Angelines along their borders. Tall and fit from his active lifestyle and the battle training that almost all Euskerri undertake at some point he moves with confidence and a regal sort of grace as befitting his social standing. There's almost always a look of intelligent intensity in his eyes, but they are warmed by a sort of quiet humor, and his features are good enough that he tends to attract positive attention, especially when he gives his quirky half-grin.
Personality (1-2 Paragraphs):
Always known for an attention to detail, the Prince of the Euskerri can be very perceptive and he's well-learned, making him well informed on most subjects. He's also known for a sort of steady, blunt, relentless honesty that can make him come across as aggressive or exacting, and though he isn't cold it can often seem like he is when he's on the trail of some perceived or actual falsehood. He can be charming in a very polite but comfortable way and under his occasionally brusque demeanor he does have the heart of a romantic. With friends and family his warmth comes out a bit more, as does his wry sense of humor, and he enjoys games of skill and chance as well as hunting.
History (At least 2 detailed Paragraphs):
Born in the first generation after Euskerria gained its sovereign independence by appointment of his father Inigo by a council of Euskerrian nobility, Balendin grew up much more modestly than most royalty could claim to. With their recent freedom from Aragonia and wary of the Rey going back on his word they were always a closely-guarded family, and even as the second son there was never a moment where Balendin wasn't under some sort of guard. His father and mother impressed on him very early the values that made up the Euskerrian culture, much of which was based on a strong sense of loyalty to family and nation, honesty and hard work. Being a people who had spent centuries in the mountains between two larger nations those traits alone, as well as the knowledge of the landscape, prevented either the d'Angelines or the Aragonians from ever completely conquering them, though they did try to keep trade relations open with both and often married across the borders for that purpose, which lent to influences of both that never quite overcame the original culture of Euskerria.
With all of this to consider, as well as the fact that as the first King generations of people would be looking on Inigo took a great interest in the education of his children as well as their care and upbringing. While denied anything considered useless or frivolous the children were all well-taught in history, science and politics by a variety of tutors, as well as the boys and girls alike being taught to fight in case they should ever need to defend themselves in another invasion. Balendin learned everything that he could thoroughly, and while not a genius his intellect allowed him to retain a great deal of that knowledge and still go seeking out more. His childhood and teenaged years passed uneventfully enough, as he was a well-behaved and reserved youth and when he came of age, having no other duties, he took up the role of Archivist.
It was in this juncture when Balen discovered old missives of tentative alliances with the bordering nations, all of which were denied due to Euskerria's uncertain political atmosphere, save one from the King of Terre d'Ange dated about a hundred and forty years previous. In it the King at the time had agreed that for the sake of strengthening borders, a marriage would be arranged between a person of royal blood in Terre d'Ange and a person of royal blood in Euskerria, should Euskerria become an independent nation. After presenting this to his father it was agreed that Balentin, as the second son, should venture to the City of Elua and see if they still intended to keep their word, and if so marry one of the women of that line, as his elder brother was already meant to wed a girl of another wealthy Euskerrian family. Being loyal to his family and wishing to see his nation prosper he could do nothing but agree and spent a year readying for the journey, learning as much of d'Angeline culture and politics as he could.
Once his studies were deemed complete to his own exacting standards the Prince set out on his journey, meaning to see if the d'Angelines are willing to keep their old promises or will prove to be as fickle as some stories suggest.